Public Statements

Reid, Heller, Heck Re-Introduce Bill To Clean Up Dangerous Three Kids Mine Site

Statement

Nevada Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller and Representative Joe Heck today jointly re-introduced the Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act. The bill will help the Bureau of Land Management and the City of Henderson clean up a toxic abandoned mine site without costing taxpayers for cleanup. Cleaning up the Three Kids Mine site will create new jobs in Henderson and will turn a community liability into an opportunity for economic development for southern Nevadans. The two senators formally re-introduced the legislation to ensure its consideration by the Senate in the 113th Congress. Representative Joe Heck introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The Henderson community has had to deal with the hazardous effects of the Three Kids Mine site for far too long," said Senator Reid. "Without costing taypayers a dime, this bill will remediate the damage that the toxic dump has caused for five decades. We must ensure that the site is finally cleaned-up and made safe for Nevada families"

"This innovative solution to a long-standing problem in the community is a win-win for Nevadans," said Senator Heller. "Not only will it clean up this problematic mine site at no cost to taxpayers, it will bring a portion of the 87 percent of Nevada controlled by the federal government into economic productivity for Henderson."

"The long-abandoned Three Kids Mine has been an unsightly, dangerous and potentially environmentally-damaging site close to homes and businesses in Henderson that must be reclaimed," Rep. Heck said. "This legislation offers the delegation a chance to work together on a bill to establish a public-private partnership for mine clean-up that will create jobs and improve safety in southern Nevada at no cost to the Federal government. Once remediated, this land will be developed, creating further opportunities for economic development and job creation. I am pleased to have the support of our Senators on this legislation and look forward to working with them to see this bill become law."

BACKGROUND:

*The Three Kids Mine site is a 1,260 acre abandoned manganese mine and mill site located along the south side of Lake Mead Drive, across the highway from Lake Las Vegas, in Henderson.*The bill would direct the BLM to convey the federal portions of the Three Kids Mine site to the City of Henderson's Redevelopment Agency for fair market value taking into account the cost of reclamation for the mine site.*Once it receives title to the land, the Redevelopment Agency will work with a developer to complete the cleanup to meet stringent state and federal standards and to develop a residential community in its place.